I was at DU practice this morningworking on our melting pot story that is pegged to run on the cover of Friday’s paper. Kind of an off-the-wall recruiting story about the Pios signing fewer Canadians and finding Americans in places like Johnstown, Iowa, Edmond, Okla., and Las Vegas. In 1980-81, DU had 16 Canucks on the roster. This season, just four. Make no mistake, I have nothing against Canadians. We’re just looking at the growth of U.S. hockey. The art will probably be the best part of the piece. Haven’t seen it yet, but thanks to SID Erich Bacher, who organized the shoot, we apparently have images of the 10 or so guys from unlikely U.S. places wearing clothing to represent their hometown. For instance, Matt Donovan has a Oklahoma Sooners jersey on and Beau Bennett is wearing beach shorts and clutching a surfboard.

DU coach George Gwozdeckysaid he is leaning towards starting sophomore goalie Adam Murray (2-1, 4.90 GAA) on Friday against Northern Michigan and going with freshman Sam Brittain (10-4-3, 2.07 GAA) on Saturday. He also told me the tentative lines, but I must say, does it really matter? Fact is, the Pios are missing three guys that have produced 31 of 66 goals. As Gwoz joked to me, it’s kind of like rolling the dice. He did say the usual 11-forward, seven-D will be in place.

Talked briefly with freshman C Nick Shore, who said he is no longer required to play with protection on his right wrist. I expect Nick to have a tremendous second half.

Horrible news about CC star freshman Jaden Schwartz, who apparently suffered a broken ankle in Team Canada’s win over the Czech Republic this week. Schwartz is going to miss the rest of the World Junior Championship and all of January with the Tigers.

Kensler joined The Denver Post in 1989 and has covered a variety of beats, including Colorado, Colorado State, golf, Olympics and the Denver Broncos. His brush with greatness: losing in a two-on-two pickup basketball game at Ohio State against two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.